readwithbec_'s reviews
57 reviews

“𝔼𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕪𝕓𝕠𝕕𝕪 𝕕𝕖𝕤𝕖𝕣𝕧𝕖𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕤𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕘𝕠𝕠𝕕 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕝𝕚𝕗𝕖. 𝔸𝕥 𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕥 𝕠𝕟𝕔𝕖”.

Thoughts: I did not have the opportunity to read this book while growing up, but I'm glad I have had the chance to read it now. This book is heartbreaking and truly captures the innocence of children. It is a quick and short read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

 Synopsis: Once by Morris Gleitzman is the story of a young Jewish boy who is determined to escape the orphanage he lives in to save his Jewish parents from the Nazis in the occupied Poland of the Second World War. Everybody deserves to have something good in their life. At least Once.

Please check trigger warnings before reading this book.

★★★★★

“𝔼𝕧𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕦𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕪, 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕤 𝕚𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕕𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕘𝕝𝕠𝕓𝕖 𝕨𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕓𝕖𝕘𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕠 𝕤𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕝𝕖. 𝔸𝕝𝕝 𝕨𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕘𝕣𝕠𝕨 𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕝𝕝, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕟 𝕘𝕝𝕠𝕓𝕖𝕤 𝕠𝕟 𝕞𝕪 𝕤𝕙𝕖𝕝𝕗 𝕨𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕣𝕖𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕟 𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕢𝕦𝕚𝕖𝕥, 𝕡𝕖𝕒𝕔𝕖𝕗𝕦𝕝 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕤” ❄️

Thoughts: I love, love, love the relationship between Clara and Miller. Plot twists… I won’t say much more. I loved how the book was in the POV of Morgan & Clara between chapters. I additionally loved the ending although it was predictable and cheesy.

Synopsis: Regretting You follows Morgan Grant and her teenage daughter Clara who are experiencing the usual issues faced by mothers and daughters. Morgan will do anything to protect her daughter and that includes stopping Clara from repeating the same mistakes she made as a teen.

Please check trigger warnings before reading this book.

★★★★★

“𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙 𝕨𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘, 𝕀 𝕗𝕖𝕖𝕝 𝕡𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕣 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕞𝕒𝕪𝕓𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕤𝕥 𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖 𝕚𝕟 𝕞𝕪 𝕝𝕚𝕗𝕖. 𝕀 𝕕𝕠𝕟'𝕥 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕤𝕒𝕪 𝕤𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕓𝕠𝕕𝕪 𝕖𝕝𝕤𝕖'𝕤 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕕𝕤. 𝕀 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕨𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕖 𝕞𝕪 𝕠𝕨𝕟. 𝕀 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕓𝕖 𝕞𝕪𝕤𝕖𝕝𝕗 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕠𝕟𝕔𝕖. 𝕀 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕣𝕚𝕧𝕒𝕔𝕪 𝕠𝕗 𝕚𝕥. ℕ𝕠𝕓𝕠𝕕𝕪'𝕤 𝕨𝕒𝕥𝕔𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘. ℕ𝕠𝕓𝕠𝕕𝕪'𝕤 𝕛𝕦𝕕𝕘𝕚𝕟𝕘. ℕ𝕠𝕓𝕠𝕕𝕪'𝕤 𝕨𝕖𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕚𝕟. ℕ𝕠 𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕕𝕚𝕣𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕤 𝕠𝕣 𝕒𝕘𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕤 𝕠𝕣 𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕒𝕘𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝕠𝕣 𝕕𝕚𝕣𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕤 𝕠𝕣 𝕄𝕠𝕞. 𝕁𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕞𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕒𝕘𝕖. 𝕎𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕚𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕠𝕡𝕡𝕠𝕤𝕚𝕥𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕠 𝕞𝕖. ℙ𝕖𝕣𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕗𝕖𝕖𝕝𝕤 𝕚𝕟𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕝𝕪 𝕗𝕒𝕜𝕖. 𝕎𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕗𝕖𝕖𝕝𝕤 𝕚𝕟𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕝𝕪 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕝.”

Thoughts: This book was eye-opening, I watched Jennette on TV shows growing up and it is sickening now to hear what she went through as a child actor from not only her mother but also Nickelodeon. Jennette speaks of her being an actor was her mother’s dream and not her’s. The book covers her struggles with Anorexia, Bulimia, Calorie restriction diets, Alcoholism and Abuse from her narcissistic mother. It was a very emotional read but a book I believe everyone should read.

Synopsis: I'm Glad My Mom Died is a memoir by American writer, director and former actress Jennette McCurdy based on her one-woman show of the same name. The book is about her career as a child actress and her difficult relationship with her abusive mother who died in 2013.

Please check trigger warnings before reading this book.

★★★★★

“𝕎𝕖 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕥𝕨𝕠 𝕡𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕤 𝕠𝕗 𝕒 𝕤𝕠𝕟𝕘. ℍ𝕖 𝕚𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕦𝕤𝕚𝕔. 𝕀 𝕒𝕞 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕕𝕤”.

Thoughts: I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It beautifully captured the journey of grief experienced by Julie and her friends, each dealing with their emotions in unique ways. The ability to see how each character grieved differently was truly intriguing. I was particularly moved by Julie's connection with Sam even after his passing, and their emotional bond touched my heart. The writing style was captivating, and I adored the book cover as well.

Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Julie has her future all planned out—move out of her small town with her boyfriend Sam, attend college in the city, spend a summer in Japan. But then Sam dies. And everything changes. Heartbroken, Julie skips his funeral, throws out his things, and tries everything to forget him and the tragic way he died. But a message Sam left behind in her yearbook forces back memories. Desperate to hear his voice one more time, Julie calls Sam’s cellphone just to listen to his voicemail. And Sam picks up the phone. In a miraculous turn of events, Julie’s been given a second chance at goodbye. The connection is temporary. But hearing Sam’s voice makes her fall for him all over again, and with each call it becomes harder to let him go. However, keeping her otherworldly calls with Sam a secret isn’t easy, especially when Julie witnesses the suffering Sam’s family is going through. Unable to stand by the sidelines and watch their shared loved ones in pain, Julie is torn between spilling the truth about her calls with Sam and risking their connection and losing him forever.

Please check trigger warnings before reading this book.

★★★★☆ 

“𝔻𝕠𝕟’𝕥 𝕞𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕡𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝕜𝕟𝕠𝕨𝕟, 𝕞𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕒𝕓𝕤𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕖 𝕗𝕖𝕝𝕥”

Thoughts: I attempted to like this book, yet its overall chaotic nature hindered my likeness for it. There were some parts of the book where I did not want to put the book down, but the majority of the book was a massive push to get myself through it. The Voss family's dysfunctionality was noteworthy, and the narrative encompassed a range of themes, creating a whirlwind of events. It was an easy read, but regrettably, is not my favourite CoHo book thus far.

Synopsis: The Voss family is anything but normal. They live in a repurposed church, newly baptised Dollar Voss. The once cancer-stricken mother lives in the basement, the father is married to the mother’s former nurse, the little half-brother isn’t allowed to do or eat anything fun, and the eldest siblings are irritatingly perfect. Then, there’s Merit. Merit Voss collects trophies she hasn’t earned and secrets her family forces her to keep. While browsing the local antiques shop for her next trophy, she finds Sagan. His wit and unapologetic idealism disarm and spark renewed life into her—until she discovers that he’s completely unavailable. Merit retreats deeper into herself, watching her family from the sidelines when she learns a secret that no trophy in the world can fix. Fed up with the lies, Merit decides to shatter the happy family illusion that she’s never been a part of before leaving them behind for good. When her escape plan fails, Merit is forced to deal with the staggering consequences of telling the truth and losing the one boy she loves.

Please check trigger warnings before reading this book.

★★☆☆☆

“𝔹𝕖𝕔𝕒𝕦𝕤𝕖 𝕤𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕥𝕚𝕞𝕖𝕤 𝕒𝕝𝕝 𝕨𝕖 𝕘𝕖𝕥 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕤. 𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕟𝕠 𝕕𝕠-𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕤; 𝕨𝕙𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕡𝕖𝕟𝕤 𝕚𝕟 𝕒 𝕞𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕕𝕖𝕗𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕤 𝕝𝕚𝕗𝕖—𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕤 𝕚𝕥 𝕚𝕤 𝕝𝕚𝕗𝕖”.

Thoughts: This book completely tore me apart (IYKYK). If you need a good cry, this is the perfect book to read. It had been on my to-be-read list for the longest time, and I'm so glad I finally picked it up. The relationship between Rune & Poppy is incredibly pure and sweet. Tillie's writing beautifully captured the essence of the story, making it a truly unforgettable read.

Synopsis: One kiss lasts a moment. But a thousand kisses can last a lifetime. One boy. One girl. A bond that is forged in an instant and cherished for a decade. A bond that neither time nor distance can break. A bond that will last forever. Or so they believe. When seventeen-year-old Rune Kristiansen returns from his native Norway to the sleepy town of Blossom Grove, Georgia, where he befriended Poppy Litchfield as a child, he has just one thing on his mind. Why did the girl who was one half of his soul, who promised to wait faithfully for his return, cut him off without a word of explanation? Rune's heart was broken two years ago when Poppy fell silent. When he discovers the truth, he finds that the greatest heartache is yet to come. A stand-alone young adult tearjerker romance, recommended for ages fourteen and up.

Please check trigger warnings before reading this book. 

★★★★★

Thoughts: Johnny’s memoir has been on my TBR since it was released in August 2022. When I heard the news of his passing, I was shattered and knew it was time to finally read his memoir. I have had the privilege of meeting Johnny on several occasions as a fan at signings and telethons. Throughout my time supporting Johnny since 2011, I have made many wonderful friendships and memories. Johnny’s memoir reflects on his personal life and career. It was hard to put down, being so raw and heartbreaking. It contained numerous humorous moments that reminded me of Johnny's cheeky and funny side.

Synopsis: Johnny Ruffo came to Australia's attention when he entered The X Factor in 2011. A concreter with a cheeky smile and long-held passion for music, he won millions of hearts and eventually placed third. Sony Music rushed to sign him up and he was offered a guest spot on Australia's favourite soap, Home and Away, which turned into a three-year role. But the sudden rise to fame took its toll. Johnny found it hard to resist the weekend-long parties, drugs, alcohol and fair-weather friends that came with the territory. He had started suffering from severe headaches when his girlfriend, Tahnee, noticed something was also wrong with his speech. Johnny was rushed to hospital, where doctors prepped him for immediate surgery to deal with a 7-centimetre-long tumour. Johnny was ultimately diagnosed with a rare brain cancer, with which - despite a period of remission - he still battles today. But in a strange way Johnny thinks the cancer actually saved his life.

Rest Easy Johnny

🤍 1988 - 2023 🤍

Please check trigger warnings before reading this book.

★★★★★